Corn-harvester.



PATENTED OCT. "30, 1906.

' I. J. BALL.

CORN HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED MAY-31.1905.

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. I 1. J. BALL. v

001m HARVBSTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1906.

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10 4mm m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING BALL, OF BROOK, NEBRASKA.

CORN-HARVESTER.

To all whoin it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVING J. BALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brock, in the county of Nemaha and State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters, ofwhich be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, andwherein said embodiment is illustrated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view ofso much of a ma chine as is necessary to a complete understanding of thepresent improvements, parts being shown in elevation. elevation, acouple of the guide-fingers 0 being broken away to show the flanges M ofthe carrier N and fingers is. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective viewof the cutters and their immediately-associated parts, and Fig. 4 is adetail horizontal sectional view on a line Referring more specificallyto the drawings,

wherein like reference characters refer to corresponding parts in theseveral views, A designates the frame of the machine, the same beingadapted to be supported and adjusted upon traction and caster wheels, ifdesired. (Notshown) At the base of the machine and on opposite sidesthereof are plates L, arranged, in conjunction with depending separatedguidefingers 7c and circumferential ribs or flanges M on the rotatablecarrier N, to form ways'K, conveniently three in number, although agreater or less number may be employed, as may be found expedient underworking conditions. The fingers 7c are pivotally supportedby a fixedtransversely-disposed plate k, secured to the frame of the machine, andare rounded in a rearward direction at their lower ends to facilitatetheir travel over the ground, a spring L being interposed between thefingers and the plate, exerting a normal tension to press the fingerstoward the ground. The ways just referred to are Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed May 31, 1905. Serial 110.263.132.

Fig 2 is a rear Patented Oct. -30, 1906.

for the purpose of guiding'thestalks subsequent to the bending down ofthe same to ward the ground, .so that they will be presented in properarrangementrelative to the other parts of the machine to be presentlypointed out. It is to be noted that the guide-fingers 7c are directlybeneath and in the vertical planes ofthe ribs or flanges on the carrierN, Fig. 1, whereby to continually preserve the continuous guideways Kwithout interfering with the rotation ofsai'd carrier. It is also to beobserved that a plate L above the forward ends of thewa s K performs thefunction of pressing t e stalks downward toward the groundto prevent theteeth on the rotary carrier N from striking the ears on the stalk untilthe guidefingers 0 now, to be defined, engage said stalks.

Arranged so that the spaces between the same may register with the waysK are a series of the guide-fingers O, the same having upwardly-turnedoval-pointed ends, said fingers being secured in place for both lateraland longitudinal adjustment in the following manner: P is a beamfixedlysecured across the lower rear end of the machine and provided on itsouter face with ribs p, designed to enter complementary grooves in theupper face of each guide-finger O; This permits the proper adjustment ofthe fingers either in a lateral direction longitudinally of the ribs 19or len thwise of said fingers, as is obvious. To 100 the beam andfingerstogether, I provide bolts p and nuts 12*, said bolts passingthrough longitudinal slots 19* in the beam P and vertical slots prunning longitudinally of the guide-fingers.

Q designates vertically disposed knifeblades, the lower back edges ofwhich are seated within depressions or recesses 0 in the upper surfaceof the guide-fingers O, the walls of the depressions preventing lateralplay of the blades relative to the fingers and rivets or pins 0, passingthrough the blades and perforated ears 0 on the fingers, serving tofasten the lower ends of said blades in their respective recesses orseats. The upper'ends g of these blades Q are-slotted, as at g for thereception of transversel -disposed bolts or pins g, each connecting t efree ends of a pan of bracket-arms g and bracing-opposite sides of theblades and adjustable thereon and with said blades through the medium ofthe slot-and-pin connection therebetween.

Each pair of bracket-arms is'connected by a sleeve encompassing theshaft 8 and are held in proper position against lateral play on saidshaft by means of a set-screw r.

A series of cutter-blades It, disposed transversely to and between theblades Q, are also loosely sleeved upon the shaft 8 at their upperedges'and rest at their bottom edges upon the upper surfaces of theguide fingers O, the same being locked in desired positions of lateraladjustment on the shaft by means of a slot-and-bolt connection r betweeneach of them and. the beam P. The effective parts of these cutter-bladesare of course those por tions of the sharp edges thereof'which areintermediate the guide-fingers and span the spaces therebetween. Asshown, the cutterblades incline upwardly and rearwardly relative to theguide-fingers. As the stalks pass through the ways K their attached orlower ends first enter the spaces between the guidefingers and as themachine moves forward are drawn therethrough, whereby the ears arecaught between the fingers and guided by the diverging walls thereof tothe cutterblades R, which cut the same from its butt and stalk when thedetached ears are in po sition 'for the succeeding manipulation, as willpresently appear.

The purpose of the knife-blades Q is principally to out up and lessenthe hindrance offered to the progressive movement of the machine byforeign matter or stalks disposed across the path of movement of saidblades and transversely of the line of travel of the machine, also tokeep the ears straight as they are cut from the stalks. I x

It is to be noted that the guide-fingers and transverse cutterblades aredesigned to be arranged sufiiciently close to the teeth at of the rotarycarrier N to permitlengthwise en trance therebetween of the averagelargesized ears, but too close to permit lengthwise turning or reversalof said ears. whereby insure the travel of the separated ears butt firstthrough the machine. v

Sis a toothed elevating or pusher roller for feeding the ears upwardlyinto the s ace between the rotary 'yieldablyressed usking devices T andthe carrier N, t e second husk;

ing device being represented at Y and the teeth and plate for catchingthe husks carried around thereby at 2 and 3, respectively.

II is acaster-wheel, one being conveniently mounted at each side of themachine, and W an elevating device designed to raise the machine awayfrom the ground and throw the weight thereofupon said caster when themachine is in the act of turning from a straight path:

The teeth of the husking devices T are cleaned partly by the teeth ofthe pusherroller S and de ending teeth 42 on a supporting-plate U, w ilethe husking device Y is cleaned by teeth #2 on a transvers'ely-disposedrod 12 at the forward end of the machine. The teeth of the pusher-rollerS are in turn cleaned by a stationary toothed rod w, situated behind atrash-roller w and under the pusher-roller S. The rod ust referred tohas another series of teeth w for cleaning the trash-roller, the wholearrangement bemg such as to effect the forcing of the husks or refusebackward beyond the bar P and rear ends of the fingers 0.

It is to be understood that changes and alterations may be made in themachine above described and shown in the drawings without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character described, guide-fingers, cutters onsaid fingers disposed in vertical planes, and a cutter in a plane atright angles to the said vertical planes and spanning the space betweensaid first-nanied cutters, in combination with a rod extendingtransversely of the machine on which the spanning cutter is sleeved, andmeans for securing the spanning cutter in position.

,2. In a machine of the character described, means for separating theears from a stalk, and separated automatically adjustableguiding-fingers for the stalks pro jecting downwardly and rearwardlyrelative to the direc tion of travel of the machine and toward theseparating means forming a way leading to said separating means.

3. In a machine of the character described, means for separating theears from a stalk, and separated pivoted guiding-fingers for the stalksprojecting downwardly and rearwardly relative to the direction of travelof the machine and toward the separating means forming a way leading tosaid separating means.

4. In a machine of the character described, guide-fingers, cutters onsaid guide-fingers disposed in vertical planes, and a cutter in a planeat right angles to the said vertical planes and spanning the spacebetween said Iirst-named cutters, in combination with a rod extendingtransversely of the machine on which the spanning cutter is sleeved andadjustable, and means for securing the spanning cutter in position.

5. In a machine of the character described, means for separating thecars from their stalks, means for bending the stalks toward the groundand automatically adjustable guiding-fingers arranged to. separate andaline the stalks longitudinally of the ma chine prior to theirpresentment to said sepa ratin means.

6. In a machine of the character described, guide-fingers, cutters onsaid fingers disposed in vertical planes, and a cutter in a plane atright angles to the said vertical planes and spanning the space betweensaid first-named cutters, in combination with a rod extending IIStransversely of the machine on which the spanning cutter is sleeved, andmeans for securing the spanning cutter in position including a boltengaging the cutter, and a bar engaged by said bolt.

7 In a machine of the character described, means for separating the earsfrom their stalks, means for bending the stalks toward the ground andautomatically adjustable guiding -fingers arranged to separate and alinethe stalks longitudinally of the machine prior to their presentation tosaid separating means, in combination with husking means operativelyassociated with said separating means.

8. In a machine of the character described, guide-fingers, cutters onsaid fingers disposed in vertical planes, and a cutter in a plane atright angles to the said vertical lanes and spanning the space betweensaid st-named cutters, 1n combination with a rod extending transverselyof the machine on which the spanning cutter is sleeved, means forsecuring t e spanning cutter in position including a bolt engaging aslotted portion of the cutter, and a bar engaged by said bolt.

9. In a machine of the character described, means for separating theears from their stalks, means for bending the stalks toward the groundand automatically-adjustable guiding fingers arranged to se arate andaline the stalks longitudinally of t e machine 1 prior to theirpresentment to said separating means, in combination with husking meansoperatively assoclated wlth said separating means, and a cooperatingcarrier and pusher for feeding the separated ears thereto.

10'. In combination with a carrier, means for separating ears from itsstalk, and for presentin them butt first to saidcarrier.

11. n combination with a carrier, means for separating cars from theirstalks, and for presenting them butt first to said carrier, including acutter-blade having an inclined upper face.

12. In a machine of the character described, means for separating thecars from a stalk comprising a cutter-bar, guide-fingers leadingthereto, forwardly-extending knifeblades on the guide-fingers, and meansfor securing said blades in place including a bracket secured to theside thereof.

13. In a machine of the character described, means for separating thecars from a stalk comprising a cutter-bar, guide-fingers leadingthereto, forwardly-extending knifeblades on the guide-fingers, and meansfor securing said blades in place including a bracket secured to theside thereof by means of an adjustable slot-and-pin engagement.

14. In a machine of the character described, means for separating theears from a stalk comprising a cutter-bar, guide-fingers leadingthereto, forwardly-extending knife- 1 scribed, guide-fingers, a supporttherefor ineluding means permitting their lateral ad- .justment, cutterson said guide-fingers disposed in vertical planes, a cutter spanning thespace between the guide-fingers, arranged in a plane at right angles tothe said vertical planes, and means for adjusting said spanning cutterincluding a rodextending transversely of the machine, and means sleevedupon and slidable lengthwise on said rod and connected to the s anningcutter.

16. In a machine of the character described, means for separating earsfrom stalks, and guiding instrumentalities operatively associated withsaid separating means including guiding-fingers, and means whereby saidfingers'may be adjusted both laterally and longitudinally.

17. In a machine of the character described, adjustable guiding-fingers,a laterally-adjustable cutter-blade operatively associated with saidfingers spanning the space intermediate adjoining fingers and in closeproximity to said fingers.

18. In a machine of the character described, guide-fingers, cutters onsaid fingers disposed in vertical planes, and a cutter spanning thespace between said first-named cutters and occupying a plane at rightangles to said vertical planes, 1n combination with instrumentalitieswhereby the guide-fingers and the cutters may be adjusted in a directiontransversely of the machine.

19. In a machine of the character described, guide-fingers, a cutterspanning the space between said guide-fingers, and means forindependently securing the guide-fingers and spanning cutter in adjustedpositions transversely of the machine.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IRVING J. BALL.

